national aviary >> beaks are tools

HUNTERS AND HUNTED
Some birds hunt other animals to get their food, while some have to be on guard against animals that want to hunt them. Can you tell the difference between a hunter and a hunted bird?

WHAT'S FOR LUNCH
Who eats what? In this experiment you put out a variety of foods, and figure out which birds come to each kind.

HOW'S THE WATER?
Birds need safe drinking water as well as food. See what can happen to birds if their water supply is polluted, then learn how to do some experiments and test the safety of your water.

BACKYARD BIRDFEEDER
Attract certain kinds of birds by putting out specific foods. We show you how.

Test out different tools for gathering foods, then explain how different beaks are adapted to different diets.

3 straws
3 chopsticks
2 fishnets
2nutcrackers
2 tongs
2 strainers or slotted spoons
2 eyedroppers
scissors or shears

1 letter opener (or knife, but not sharp)
water
small vase or narrow cup
assorted hard nuts: brazil, almonds, walnuts
bucket
puffed rice or wheat cereal
grapes
a rubber mouse

Arrange the materials into the six stations as described below. Each station should have a sign that states what food is being served.

STATION ONE

BIRDS' FOOD	SET-UP	TOOLS
nuts	offer assorted nuts to be opened with the tools	scissors or shears, nutcracker, tongs

STATION TWO

BIRDS' FOOD	SET-UP	TOOLS
nectar	put a small amount of water in a small vase or narrow glass	chopsticks, drinking straw, strainer

STATION THREE

FOOD	SET-UP	TOOLS
tiny aquatic plants and animals	put puffed rice or wheat in a bowl	straw, strainer or slotted spoon, eyedropper

STATION FOUR

FOOD	SET-UP	TOOLS
fruit	offer assorted nuts to be opened with the tools	scissors or shears, nutcracker, tongs

STATION FIVE

FOOD	SET-UP	TOOLS
rodents and other small animals	offer assorted nuts to be opened with the tools	scissors or shears, nutcracker, eye dropper

STATION SIX

FOOD	SET-UP	TOOLS
fish	place ravioli in a large bowl of water	letter opener or knife, straw, chopsticks

SET-UP: Set up the materials into stations as described at left.

TEAMS: If you have a large group, divide into six teams.

VISIT STATIONS: At each station, try to gather the food using each of the three tools. Each set-up represents a food eaten by birds, and the tools represent different beaks. Each group must decide which tool is most effective at each station. You may wish to try gathering food for 10 seconds with each tool, and compare amounts.

NOTES:At each station, write down the name of the food, the best tool, and why it was best.

When finished, compare the tools to actual bird beaks, by referring back to step A.

After the activity, discuss beak adaptations.

This buffet has six different feeding stations. Each station has a specific kind of food, and three different tools for gathering food–one that fits the food, and two that don't. Students will use each tool to determine which is best for that food.

Imagine a flamingo trying to
sip nectar, or a hummingbird trying to crack open nuts. They couldn't!

These six birds eat very different things. Their beaks are the perfect tool for the job.

Compare the beaks to the common tools you see here. You can tell alot about how a bird gathers its food by the shape of its beak.

Ready to learn what each eats?

EGRET
A beak like a knife is good for stabbing at food.

FLAMINGO
A slotted spoon or strainer can filter things out of water.

HAWK
Shears are good for cutting meat.

HORNBILL
Tongs can grab things that are hard to reach.

HUMMINGBIRD
A straw is perfect for sipping.

PARROT
A nutcracker breaks open hard shells.

What do these birds eat? These six birds will feed at the buffet you set up (next step). When you figure out the best tool for gathering the different foods, you can compare that tool to these pictures, and find out what each bird eats.

Birds' beaks come in an amazing variety of shapes and sizes. One big reason for this is that beaks are specialized tools for gathering food. Imagine if you had to gather your food without hands. Birds manage, because of their beaks.

Click on A, at left, to start.